How can I tell whether a vending route’s cash collection process is reliable?

Ask the owner to walk you through one collection from start to finish: who opens the machine, where the cash is counted, who records it and when it reaches the bank. Each step should leave something you can inspect. Pay attention to who touches the money alone.

Then compare records. Machine counters, if the units keep them, should roughly agree with collected cash and card settlements. Deposits should match the collection logs over the same dates. Differences are not always bad, but the owner should be able to explain them without hesitation.

Think about cash versus card as well. A route that is mostly cash needs tighter controls and your own check afterwards. Ask your accountant how the sales are reported, whether the books use a cash or accrual approach, and how that might change the picture. Consider a trial period where you share the collections. Finally, consider asking for a short trial period in which you ride along on collections, count the cash yourself and compare it with the records afterwards. Agree this with the seller in advance. It is a practical way to test the process without accusing anyone of anything.

Key takeaways

• Follow one collection from machine to bank and note who handles it alone.
• Compare machine counters, collection logs and deposits for the same dates.
• Ask your accountant how the income is recorded in the statements.